HERSHEY — The positive energy at Downtown Hershey
Association’s first public meeting Thursday night was “priming the
pump” for creating a vibrant community, said Phil
Friedrich, a member of the association’s board.
More than 200 people came out to
plaster a wall with notecards offering suggestions on what they would
like to see downtown, and to vote on what they would prefer in the
way of signs, landscaping, parks, building styles, public art, paving
and more.
“Everybody is excited,” Friedrich
said. “I traveled around the world for 20 years in my job, and I
know the possibilities. I’ve seen what a focused civic endeavor can
do.”
The Downtown Hershey Association formed
this year with 25 board members. It has hired the Lititz firm of Derck
Edson to create a master plan for downtown.
Residents seemed eager to add their 2
cents. Already some themes were emerging. Many people cited a
walkable community with more trees, green spaces, bicycle paths,
boutique stores, book stores, night time entertainment, coffee shops
and ethnic restaurants.
Some mentioned dog parks, art galleries
and Segway tours. One suggested “yes to chickens and rabbits,”
another added “no to chickens and rabbits.”
Jennifer Renz, who lives downtown and
has three small children, was the one who did not want chickens,
especially roosters. But she agreed with many of the other ideas.
“We moved here so we could walk
places,” she said. “I’d like more trees, greenery, eco-friendly
things. I like the historic look, but I think we could mix in some
more contemporary architecture. I’d like more things to walk to, more
small businesses.”
Angela Graham and her son Nicholas, 13,
were voting on some of the design elements suggested by Derck
Edson. She said she would like to keep downtown’s historic feel.
Nicholas said he would like fountains, parks, cobblestone streets and
“the old timey look.”
Brian and Jennifer Krause have lived in
town for 20 years, and saw a similar planning process in the early
2000s that didn’t go anywhere. At the time, a lot of people said
they didn’t want tourists downtown, but Brian Krause said he feels
differently.
“Without the tourists, you don’t have
the businesses,” he said.
They said they hoped this time is
different.
“We’re pro doing something to make a
more vibrant downtown,” Jennifer Krause said.
Chris Brown, project manager for Derck
Edson, said his job is to synthesize the interviews he has done
with major stakeholders, along with the hundreds of suggestions
posted on the wall and on the organization’s website, to develop a
vision so private development will want to invest. He said there will
probably be public/private partnerships to make it happen, hopefully
within five to seven years.
“We don’t want this plan to sit on a
shelf,” he said. “We want the public to endorse it. A broad
endorsement is the only way to get a plan moving. With the turnout
and the energy tonight, we’re on a good path to get this moving.”
Renz said she liked the idea of getting
input from residents upfront. She is one of many Hershey residents
who objected to the Chipotle “fast casual” Mexican restaurant
being built downtown.
“Let people speak their minds now
instead of coming back and complaining after the ground is broken,”
she said.
Downtown Hershey Association chairman
Ed Uravic said the association will probably release a few conceptual
sketches over the summer, and schedule another public meeting in
September to introduce the plan.
“We want people to feel a sense of
ownership,” he said.
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